Response of Former Deputy Minister of Defense to Aliyev

Former Deputy Minister of Defense of Armenia Artak Zakaryan's statement reads: “Aliyev has once again come to Pashinyan’s aid. The President of Azerbaijan, in an interview with АзерТАдж, has threatened Armenia again, referring to the 44-day war and speaking about the former presidents of Armenia: ‘We cannot allow Armenia to become a potential threat to Azerbaijan again. If we notice this, we will dismantle it on the spot,’ he said.

For the sake of justice, it should be noted that without Aliyev’s unnecessary bluster, Nikol is doing everything to ensure that Armenia not only does not become a threat but also is unable to guarantee its own security and territorial integrity. Aliyev has certainly made many mistakes in his life, but he has not erred regarding Nikol. In this regard, we have erred – as a whole people.

Aliyev has also boasted about the second and third presidents of Armenia, accusing them of ‘treachery.’ They said here, well, if they were in power, would you be threatening Shushi? Remember your past, Mr. Aliyev, take a look back and see where your Azerbaijani army fled when Kocharyan and Sargsyan governed Artsakh and Armenia? Why did you not come to Shushi, in April 2016, instead of sending your Chief of Staff to Moscow for a negotiation five days into the war?

Do you see, Mr. Pashinyan, how bad our affairs are, and especially yours? Can you imagine what Aliyev will say about you in his memoirs after a change of power in Armenia?

P.S. It seems that today’s interview with President Sargsyan has also caused Aliyev great concern. For him, there will be unpleasant surprises ahead.”